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The spray stuff you speak of is 'Sun-In' and its harmless unless your hair is really brown. (It creates streaks of copper colour otherwise.) But yours is light enough.
Ive used Sun-In and it works. You dont even have to stay outside in the sun you can always just blow dry it for the same effect.
Lemon Juice works like a charm though, (The worst that could happen is that your hair could dry out some) you'll get nice blond streaks... Still not as good as Sun-In.
Yup, I use Sun-In too and put streaks in and then just blow dry it and it works a treat. I like the natural streaked effect rather than having my hair all the same, uniform colour.
Just out of curiosity, isn't your uniform hair color natural? putting stuff in it to create streaks seems more fake than natural.
Big, chunky streaks that look painted on don't look natural, but natural hair does have many colors in it. However, these are found on a strand-by-strand basis, not in 1/4" or 1/2" chunks that make a head of hair look like wallpaper.
One of the ways that I can pick out hair extensions on a person is by the unnaturally uniform hair color in the extensions. For example, many women wear extensions or hair pieces in order to increase the size of their fancy, fluffy, flouncy updos for proms or weddings. When I see these, I can pick out which curls are real and which are fake because the fake ones are so uniform in color.
Dyed hair is also usually just too uniform. That is, excepting these latest fad dyes in which people streak their hair as described above. I don't get it, but to each his/her own!
JE
I create very narrow streaks. Wide ones, as you say do look overly artificial. The idea is simply to accentuate the natural streaked effect that happens from being in the sun. I also use it to balance out the colour because the new hair at the top is darker than that further down that's had more years of exposure to the sun.
Well... if you feel you must alter your hair color to even it out, I suggest darkening the length rather than lightening the roots. Anytime you remove color, you are seriously impairing your hair's health. Adding pigment isn't a whole lot better, but it's not as bad as stripping your hair.
JE
If it is your intent to grow your hair long, then I cannot more strongly advise against using these products. What you are doing is bleaching your hair, and without exception, bleaching damages hair. You are removing pigment, replacing it with nothing, and this process chemically forces open your hair's cuticle in a manner unlike the less harsh ways that shampooing or warm water open the cuticle (which then can be closed down with vinegar rinses or cold water). There is no product that can completely undo the damage caused by bleaching. No conditioner, silicone smoother, or oil can remedy it. You can use gobs of heavy silicone serum, sure, but all that does is heavily coat your hair until the cuticle is slicked down and hardened, turning your hair stiff and brittle, much more prone to breakage. A strand of hair is a tiny tube like a straw, although the top cuticle is flexible like shingles on a roof. Silicones glue the cuticle shut, so no new moisture can get thru. If you do this after bleaching, you are asking for a lot of breakage.
I have brunette hair and used Sun-in years ago with disastrous results. I worked at a drafting board and every minute, newly broken hair bits dropped onto the board in 1"-2" segments. So I just can't caution you enough about this.
JE
I found it to be useful because it simulates waht my hair does naturally with exposure. So in the winter, I could keep the roots closer to the color of the ends. Anything in overdose can be bad however, as I did find out.
Sun-In is NOT harmless. It will permanently do some damage to your hair. If you have short hair, no big deal since it will be cut in short order. But if you have long hair, you will have to deal with the damage for a looooong time!
Lemon juice?......nothing like some acid on your hair.
How would you like your hair fried? Sunny-side up or over-easy ;-)
Sun-In is indeed harmful to the hair. It is drying in the extreme. My daughter's usually shiny, wavy locks went crispy and dull; the only remedy was cutting off the damage. Besides, you have no control over the result, your hair may bleach more or less than you wish. I DO NOT recommend it.
